Tears roll down when I think of the great hardship that I have to endure today,
but I cannot stop the tears of joy when I think of attaining Buddhahood in the future.
Birds and insects cry without shedding tears.
Nichiren does not cry but tears keep falling.
These tears are shed not for worldly matters.
They are solely for the sake of the Lotus Sutra.
Therefore, they could be said to be tears of nectar.

Shoho Jisso Sho
The Reality ofAll Things
(Background: May 17, 1273, at Sado, Showa Teihon, p.728)
A Phrase a Day